Sandy High School Drama’s spring production of the American classic, “Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder, has a unique director at the helm. Senior Riley McCord, 18,
will be the first student to direct a full production in recent memory, while also
taking on the role of the Stage Manager in the show.

For his classmates and contemporaries, it’s a bit of a shift from having a
teacher leading the way, but they are fully behind McCord and the production,
offering the story of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs, and life and death
in the small, fictional village of Grover’s Corners.

“It’s a lot of creative freedom and I feel open telling Riley my ideas,” said
Charlie Andrade, 16, a junior who plays Mrs. Gibbs. “This show is more of a
group production more than a director production. What I like is the unity.”
“It’s a different relationship,” added Bruce Dhone, 18, a senior who plays
George, adding that they can build off each other and it’s more constructive.

McCord, who had his choice of plays and noted that he didn’t like “Our Town”
at first before warming up to it, is taking the responsibility in stride.

“It feels both like an honor and a huge pressure,” he said. “I really want to
make a good show and show my peers at school what a student can do.”

Most of the students were not familiar with the play, which won the 1939
Pulitzer Prize for drama, but that they have come to enjoy it and its message
of appreciating life in the moment.

“I think it’s really important that people see the menial values in life as well as
the greater ones,” Andrade said. “Even the littlest moments count.”

“I can see why it’s called a classic,” Dhone added. “You can fit it to anything;
you can just draw out so many emotions with it.”

The students have also found it to be a good change from some of the lighter
fare that they have worked on in the past.

“Were just so used to the comedy shows,” said junior Dagan Godfrey, 17, who
plays Mr. Webb. “You really have to put yourself to it when you’re trying to
act serious. You have to have a good time while acting serious; it’s something
new.”

McCord, who plans on studying theater in college and pursuing it as a career,
noted he’s learned a lot during the rehearsal process so far, from technical
elements such as lighting and the set, to growing as an actor and a director.

He also wants the audience to walk away and enjoy the life around them.

“I hope they’re thinking about the small things in life,” McCord said. “The big
take away on this show is go home and appreciate family, appreciate the
stars, if we get any here in Sandy.”

Sandy High School Drama presents “Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder, at 7 p.m.

April 27, 28 and 29, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy. Tickets are $5 for
adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.
For more information, call 503-668-8011, ext. 7313.